Popular music Books

Book SynopsisAn “impassioned tribute” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) to the most influential music culture today, Atlanta rap—a masterful, street-level story of art, money, race, class, and salvation from acclaimed New York Times reporter Joe Coscarelli.From mansions to trap houses, office buildings to strip clubs, Atlanta is defined by its rap music. But this flashy and fast-paced world is rarely seen below surface level as a collection not of superheroes and villains, cartoons and caricatures, but of flawed and inspired individuals all trying to get a piece of what everyone else seems to have. In artistic, commercial, and human terms, Atlanta rap represents the most consequential musical ecosystem of this century. Rap Capital tells the dramatic stories of the people who make it tick and the city that made them that way. The lives of the artists driving the culture, from megastars like Lil Baby and Migos to lesser-known local strivers like Lil Reek and Marlo, represent the modern American dream but also an American nightmare, as young Black men and women wrestle generational curses, crippled school systems, incarceration, and racism on the way to an improbably destination atop art and commerce. Across Atlanta, rap dreams power countless overlapping economies, but they’re also a gamble, one that could make a poor man rich or a poor man poorer, land someone in jail or keep them out of it. Drawing on years of reporting, more than a hundred interviews, dozens of hours in recording studios and on immersive ride-alongs, acclaimed New York Times reporter Joe Coscarelli weaves a cinematic tapestry of this singular American culture as it took over in the last decade, from the big names to the lesser-seen prospects, managers, grunt-workers, mothers, DJs, lawyers, and dealers that are equally important to the industry. The result is a deeply human, era-defining book that is “required reading for anyone who has ever wondered how, exactly, Atlanta hip-hop took over the world” (Kelefa Sanneh, author of Major Labels). Entertaining and profound, Rap Capital is an epic of art, money, race, class, and sometimes, salvation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRock is not just a genre of music. It is a way of being; an attitude. It was a movement that swept and sweeps stages around the world from the 1950s until present day. The universe of rock is a star-studded one; filled with artists and songs that have changed the world with their innovation, their ideas, their thoughts and their style. Almost 70 years since the birth of rock, this book honours the legends that gave it sound, as well as all of us who loved and go on living it.Table of ContentsElvis Presley Chuck Berry Johnny Cash Ray Charles Bob Dylan The Beatles The Rolling Stones The Velvet Underground Jimi Hendrix The Doors The Beach Boys Simon & Garfunkel The Who Frank Zappa Janis Joplin Jefferson Airplane Grateful Dead The Kinks Joni Mitchell Carlos Santana Led Zeppelin Eric Clapton CSN&Y Deep Purple Yes David Bowie Genesis Queen King Crimson Traffic Aerosmith Elton John Black Sabbath Roxy Music Bruce Springsteen Bob Marley Sex Pistols The Clash Patti Smith Talking Heads Kiss Fleetwood Mac AC/DC Ramones John Lennon The Eagles Neil Young Iggy Pop Motörhead Kraftwerk U2 R.E.M. Police Dire Straits Prince Steve Ray Vaughan Guns N’ Roses The Cure Depeche Mode The Smiths New Order Nick Cave Van Halen Red Hot Chili Peppers Simple Minds Tom Petty Metallica Nirvana Foo Fighters Radiohead Oasis Blur Green Day Pearl Jam Rage Against The Machine Soundgarden Coldplay Amy Winehouse Muse Arctic Monkeys

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe candid, hilarious, shocking, occasionally horrifying, and surprisingly moving New York Times bestselling autobiography of punk legends NOFX, their own story in their own wordsNOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories is the first tell-all autobiography from one of the world''s most influential and controversial punk bands. Fans and non-fans alike will be shocked by the stories of murder, suicide, addiction, counterfeiting, riots, bondage, terminal illness, the Yakuza, and drinking pee. Told from the perspective of each of the band''s members, this book looks back at more than thirty years of comedy, tragedy, and completely inexplicable success.Trade Review"Better than Rancid's book."--Brian Baker, Minor Threat/Bad Religion "What can I say? There are not enough real punk bands left in this world we live in. If you need a little history lesson on how all this shit started, and what the true meaning of being punk rock is, I suggest you read this book now! Insanely funny, disturbingly honest, and delivered straight from the heart, this book just makes me like NOFX even more than I already do!! Read it now fuckers!!"--Fletcher, Pennywise The Interrobang, 5/29/16 "Honest and sincere tales of life as members of one of the longest running and most influential Punk bands." Classic Rock, May 2016 "Compiled in the style of Motley Crue's The Dirt, this readable and engaging account of a band who live life almost as fast as the music they play is predictably rip-roaring...For being a book that spares nothing, this one is hard to beat." AM New York, 3/27/16 "[A] raw, tell-all autobiography." Ultimate Guitar, 3/21/16 "Aside from being very entertaining, it is also a very informative book about a band who, for the vast majority of their career, refused to do interviews and refused to sign to a major label, even when bands like Green Day and Blink-182 were cashing in." Alternative Press Magazine, 4/7/16 "NOFX have been through a lot during their long history as a band. Like, really: a lot. Their new book, The Hepatitis Bathtub And Other Stories, details it all and does so in true, painfully honest NOFX fashion...The band held nothing back." Media Mikes, 4/12/16 "An in-depth look at the seedier underbelly of rock n' roll bastard step son know as Punk Rock...Definitely not for the faint of heart. The book and its writers pull no punches as they are both candid and real as they can be...Even if you have never heard of the band NOFX or its members do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book!" San Diego CityBeat, 4/11/16 "Disturbingly funny...LOL-worthy tales of a veteran band's life on the road." Phoenix New Times, 4/14/16 "A book illustrating the ups and downs of a punk band climbing their way to success all on their own." Communities Digital News, 4/8/16 "While many might expect a NOFX book to be filled with humor and non-stop hilarity, that couldn't be further from reality...The band opens up to tell some of their darkest stories about their lives...Sure, there is some humor, but overall, the book is loaded with sadness. It is amazing that from the ashes of all of their lives a band like NOFX could not only rise, but continue to thrive." Associated Press, 4/27/16 "Punk rock mainstays NOFX have been defying music industry trends for three decades. Now its members can add a new achievement to their unlikely success story: Best-selling authors." Exclaim!, 4/25/16 "A compelling, often harrowing read." NeuFutur, 4/6/16 "Surprisingly sincere...Much like the band's music, which buries moments of deep political and emotional topics inside of goofy, often sophomoric humor, the book's emotive moments are buttressed by wild stories about partying on the road...Even if you've never been a big fan of NOFX, the book is a refreshing honest look at a struggling independent band dead set on compromising nothing and still managing to be successful." Bad Feeling Magazine, 5/15/16 "With often unflinching honestly, NOFX have recounted a harrowing story that showcases the real life pain behind the band's often-obnoxious facade. It makes for a compelling read, and provides a unique fly-on-the-wall look at one of punk rock's most unlikely success stories." Racer X Illustrated, July 2016 "This is the story of a band going through some big struggles and eventually hitting it big...and it's an easy read." Music Connection, June 2016 "These stories will shock fans and non-fans alike." Austin Chronicle, 6/17/16 "Punk lit's equivalent to Motley Crue's debauched autobiography The Dirt." San Diego City Beat, 7/6/16 "Sometimes the book is violent, sometimes it's absolutely horrifying, but it holds nothing back. It's fascinating to follow the individual members as they deal with drug abuse and the deaths of parents, to getting clean and becoming parents. While there are plenty of shocking stories, the biggest surprise may be how sincere they are. In the beginning, you'll be glad these people weren't your friends, but by the end you'll wish they were...A book that's impossible to put down--even if you will occasionally want to hold it at arm's length." Scanner Zine, 7/11/16 "Excellent...An original and satisfying read...Those looking for scandal, yes you will read it. Those looking for insight, you'll read that too. Those looking for a classic Punk Rock memoir, you will definitely read it...Hard to put down...It's a genuine rags-to-riches Punk Rock story." Praise for NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories A New York Times Bestseller! "I can say with certainty I've never read a rock biography with such balanced elements of sensation and sincerity. Like the few great band bios, the array of experiences described in The Hepatitis Bathtub are enough to set anyone into contemplation about strength and perseverance, love and depravity, camaraderie, and a place for misfit rock and rollers in a society that to this day clings to rigid standards. A must-read for punks new and old and an eye-opening read for all new-comers."--John Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig and the Angry Inch "NOFX and Fat Mike are amongst the most powerful influences of my genre. This book is a 'must own' for anyone who still cherishes what is left of Punk and Rock 'n' Roll."--Joan Jett "Not for the faint of heart, and therefore HIGHLY recommended to EVERYBODY."--Amanda Palmer "Fucking gnarly. And great!"--Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day "Fat Mike is a rarity in music, an unadulterated authentic. In a profession filled with phonies and withholders, Mike shines as someone who always lets his freak flag fly. I like that a lot."--Jane Wiedlin, The Go-Go's Tampa Bay Times, 4/17/16 "A harrowing memoir...The Hepatitis Bathtub is peopled with lunatics, sociopaths, addicts and loved ones who couldn't escape the punk abyss, with the band struggling to survive dark turns ranging from drug abuse to counterfeiting to disastrous investments to friends' deaths to, um, matricide (allegedly)." Live Nation TV, 4/19/16 "The Bathtub's tales are not for the faint of heart." San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/13/16 "[A] no-B.S. book." Exclaim.ca, 4/18/16 "Tells the band's rise from shitty L.A. upstarts to the kings of pop-punk...It's also teeming with the kinds of sordid tales of drunken hooliganism and abject squalor that would put Motley Crue to shame." Punk Rock Theory, 4/18/16 "The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories doesn't disappoint. Some of these stories will make you laugh out loud, others will make you cringe and there may have even been a couple of tears at some point...It dives headfirst into the history of the band. And yes, it gets as crazy as you'd expect it to...The Hepatitis Bathtub is not just for the fans though. It's a story about perseverance. About chasing your dreams. About having the odds stacked against you, but succeeding nonetheless. About underdogs that end up at the top." Chapter 16, 4/20/16 "A tell-all memoir...The overarching themes of the book are universal and inspiring, but on a concrete level this memoir is pretty raw...Absolute candor is actually what unifies the book and makes it impossible to put down...From their humble beginnings in one of the country's toughest punk scenes to superstardom, NOFX never fails to entertain." Nashville Scene, 4/21/16 "[A] revealing new memoir...Staggering and, in some cases, heartbreaking...But Hepatitis Bathtub makes it impossible to look the other way...The format reads like a sweeping, intriguing conversation, but the book also has a cinematic quality, as each person recalls the same moments in time from his own perspective." Nashville Tennessean, 4/20/16 "Offers a no-holds-barred look at the band, as the four members--'Fat Mike' Burkett, Aaron 'El Jefe' Abeyta, Eric Melvin and Erik 'Smelly' Sandin--share memories from their 30-plus years together." Kerrang! , 4/25/16 "Every bit as hilarious, disgusting and boundary-hyphen free as you'd expect from a band who've spent three decades in the punk trenches filling themselves with drugs and booze." The A.V. Club, 4/11/16 "Does a great job of putting some of the biggest moments for NOFX into the larger context of punk and the rise of bands like Green Day and Bad Religion... NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories ultimately is a tale of a band's sheer will to exist and its unlikely success." New Noise, 4/12/16 "For most of their career, NOFX have been mislabeled and widely known as the funny punk band that shouldn't be taken too seriously. There's no doubt that, after reading their work of non-fiction, fans will see them in a different light." New Noise, 4/12/16 "The candid demeanor of their stories mirrors the ethics the band have held all along--not always pleasant, but a direct reflection of their early DIY roots...Hepatitis Bathtub covers it all. Whether a casual listener, hardcore fan, or a 'couldn't give a fuck about NOFX' character, this book is an evolutionary tale of grimy, realistic fun worth learning to read for." For the Love of Punk, 4/12/16 "NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories may be the most filthy literature you'll ever read...A must read for any fan of punk rock, even if you hate NOFX." Ground Control Magazine, 4/12/16 "A definitive history of NOFX. No attempt is made to cover or smooth out any rough or hard memories, everything feels as though it has been included in the name of telling the whole story...The character of each band member is meticulously presented and articulated and, after one has made it through the whole book, readers are left feeling as though they truly know them...In a world where many rock bios seek to do little more than collect myths, NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories bravely stands and tells the great, unbelievable truth." OC Weekly, 4/13/16 "The first opportunity for fans to hear NOFX's stories from their own perspective...A welcome look into the history of a band that once went as far as shutting out all press opportunities and interviews...Shines a whole new light on a band that's been around for longer than many other punk rockers have even been alive. While some stories are what their diehard fans will expect them to be, much of the book will shock even those who have followed the band for 30 years." "This book is a page-turner for any reality reader. And if you're a NOFX fan? Well damn, you gotta check it out!...Funny, sad, and outrageous." ?New Noise Magazine, "Top 16 Punk(ish) Chunks of 2016"

Read more less

Book SynopsisGorgeously illustrated and authoritatively written, Fender®is the officially licensed celebration of the legendary brand’s iconic guitars, amps, and basses.Table of ContentsContents Introduction Chapter 1 California Dreamin’: Young Leo Fender and the Radio Store, 1909–1946 Chapter 2 Wood, Wire, and Steel: The Birth of Fender Electric Instrument Co., 1946–1949 Chapter 3 Twang Comes to Town: The Telecaster Arrives, 1949–1952 Chapter 4 Radical Curves: The Stratocaster and the Precision Bass, 1951–1959 Chapter 5 The Need for Tweed: Fender Amps of the Fifties, 1948–1960 Chapter 6 All That Jazz: Offset Guitars and Upmarket Advertising, 1957–1962 Chapter 7 Surf’s Up: Tolex Amps, Reverb, and Evolving Guitars, 1959–1967 Chapter 8 Executive Order: The Mustang Debuts, and CBS Comes Knocking, 1962–1969 Chapter 9 Feelin’ Groovy: Pianos, Pedals, and Psychedelic Guitars, 1964–1970 Chapter 10 Saved by the Bill: Declining Quality and a Management Buyout, 1969–1985 Chapter 11 Hot-Rod Rock: The Custom Shop and Relic Guitars, 1985–1999 Chapter 12 Border Song: Fender Amps Roar Back, 1984–2023 Chapter 13 Pro Shop: Vintage Reissues and Modern Masterpieces, 2010–2023 Chapter 14 Future Perfect: The Next 75 Years, 2023–2096 Acknowledgments Image Credits Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisQueen are unique among the great rock bands. It is nearly twenty years since frontman Freddie Mercury’ s death brought the band to an end – yet their fanbase remains massive. They appeal equally to men and women. Their fans are just as likely to be teenagers too young to have been born when the band were still touring and making records (thanks not least to the huge success of the musical We Will Rock You). And their musical history is one of constant reinvention – from heavy metal and prog rock to disco pop, stadium anthems and even jazz influences. Now, Mark Blake, the experienced Mojo journalist who wrote Aurum’ s bestselling book on Pink Floyd, has written the definitive history. Having already interviewed the surviving band members over the years, he has now tracked down dozens and dozens of new interviewees, from Queen’ s first long-forgotten bass players to Freddie Mercury’ s schoolmates in Isleworth, Middlesex, to trace Queen’ s long career from their very first gawky performances in St Helens through their sensational stage-stealing appearance on Live Aid to the band’ s collaboration with Paul Rodgers at the beginning of the century. Full of fascinating new revelations – especially about the improbable transformation of a shy Asian schoolboy called Bulsara into the outrageous-living hedonist that was Freddie Mercury - this is a book every Queen fan will want to have.Trade Review'Richly detailed biography...draws on extensive interviews' ('Pick of the Paperbacks)‘Mark Blake matches the detail of his Pink Floyd book with a fluid, muscular narration of the band’s rise. Crucially, he interviews the key players (which the other biographies don’t.)’ 8/10‘Includes a highly interesting section on their origins…a well-researched account…A good choice for both Queen experts and more lightweight fans.’'Richly detailed biography...draws on extensive interviews' ('Pick of the Paperbacks) ‘ Mark Blake matches the detail of his Pink Floyd book with a fluid, muscular narration of the band’ s rise. Crucially, he interviews the key players (which the other biographies don’ t.)’ 8/10 ‘ Presents the whole, splendid saga… sparkling anecdotes throughout.’ ‘ Genuinely adds to the fund of knowledge about this truly unique band.’ ‘ Includes a highly interesting section on their origins… a well-researched account… A good choice for both Queen experts and more lightweight fans.’

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the untold stories of rock history from Earl Slick, David Bowie''s legendary guitarist. From working with John Lennon to the New York Dolls, dive into 50 years of rock ''n'' roll adventures.--Every great rock singer needs a great guitarist by their side . . .Earl Slick started with the best: aged 22 he was hired by David Bowie to play guitar on 1974's Diamond Dogs tour. He never looked back.Gracing classic Bowie albums like Young Americans and Station to Station, Slick was also in John Lennon's band at the time of the former Beatle's tragic murder. Other collaborators include Mick Jagger, The Cure, Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton. Through it all, on tour and in the studio, he lived the rock n' roll life to the hilt until it nearly killed him.Guitar puts us in the room and on the stage with rock's greatest stars as Earl Slick reveals how music history was made one lick at a time.Earl is a legendary guitar star. His playing is earth, timeless and never less than stellar' DAVID BOWIE--PRAISE FOR GUITAR''Touching . . . poignant'' Sunday Express''Guitar, gives an unvarnished account of the weird and unpredictable life of a musical mercenary'' Telegraph

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe long-awaited, never-before-told, no-holds-barred memoir from the legendary Aerosmith frontman. Finally, all the lurid tales of debauchery, sex, drugs and rock n'' roll are told straight from the horse''s lips as The Demon of Screamin'' describes his unimaginable highs and unbelievable lows as lead singer of the biggest rock band in the world.Prolific frontman, rock icon and sex symbol, Steven Tyler is a living legend. With his raw, sharp-edged vocals, musical versatility and unprecedented song writing skills, Tyler has, as lead singer of Aerosmith, sold millions of records and played sell-out concerts to as many as 450,000 people. Now, at last, he tells his own story, taking us on a wild rollercoaster ride through the bust-ups, binges, orgies and good old American excess in the jaw-droppingly honest, in-your-face way that only Tyler can.Following a fateful meeting with his ''mutant twin'' Joe Perry in the summer of 1970, Aerosmith was formedand the rest, as they say, is rock historTrade Review‘Steven Tyler is one of the greats of American music’ Sir Paul McCartney ‘The book is sticky with sex…and drugs…plus he squeezes maximum mileage from obsessive punning and compulsive wordplay.’ Classic Rock

Read more less

Book SynopsisA GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, PITCHFORK, NPR, METRO AND HERALD SCOTLAND BEST MUSIC BOOK OF 2018The definitive grime biography' NME'A landmark genre history' PitchforkThe year 2000. As Britain celebrates the new millennium, something is stirring in the crumbling council estates of inner-city London. Making beats on stolen software, spitting lyrics on tower block rooftops and beaming out signals from pirate-radio aerials, a group of teenagers raised on UK garage, American hip-hop and Jamaican reggae stumble upon a dazzling new genre.Against all odds, these young MCs will grow up to become some of the UK's most famous musicians, scoring number one records and dominating British pop culture for years to come. Hip-hop royalty will fawn over them, billion dollar brands will queue up to beg for their endorsements and through their determined DIY ethics they'll turn the music industry''s logic on its head.But getting there won't be easy. Successive governments will attempt to control their music, theTrade Review‘Grime is the sound of 21st century protest. Inner City Pressure is essential reading from a superb writer on the political awakening of a generation’ Owen Jones ‘Dan Hancox charts a remarkable story from pirate radio to the front pages. This is a story that deserves to be heard’ David Lammy MP ‘Unputdownable and bristling with insights about grime and the city it was born in. Anyone with any interest in grime, you need to be reading this, trust me’ Jeffrey Boakye, author of Hold Tight 'It says something about the last two decades that the first real history of 21st century London comes in the form of a book about grime. Hancox tells the story of a city and a music scene with restraint, humour and anger’ Owen Hatherley, author of A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain ‘Riveting… Grime, black music’s rawest response against social injustice, has the chronicler it deserves. Hancox is a tremendous guide’ Kitty Empire, Observer ‘An extraordinary pop music story. Hancox’s deep knowledge of London illuminates the music … just as you could tell the story of the US in the Sixties via rock music, Hancox sees 21st Century London through a grime lens, from the 2011 riots to Grenfell Tower’ Dorian Lynskey, GQ ‘A vivid and serious study of grime, stretching from its earliest stirrings through to its unexpected love-fest clinch with Corbyn’ Simon Reynolds ‘A terrific achievement and an instant London classic’ Leo Hollis, author of Cities Are Good For You ‘An absolutely brilliant read’ Tom Dyckhoff ‘A must read’ DJ Slimzee ‘A dazzling book’ Ellie Mae O’Hagan ‘An excellent, thorough history’ Wire ‘An exhaustive, thrilling account of one of UK music’s most fascinating and complex musical experiences’ Clash

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt was the year their records were burned in America after John’s explosive claim that the group was "more popular than Jesus," the year they were hounded out of the Philippines for "snubbing" its First Lady, the year John met Yoko Ono, and the year Paul conceived the idea for Sgt.Trade Review"A pleasing romp through the Beatles' annus mirabilis...Turner does a nice job of capturing them at their best." -- Kirkus Reviews "Reading Beatles '66, I'm right there-and where else would you want to be if you love music?" -- Bono "1966 was a crucial year in the Beatles' amazing journey from being the Fab Four to becoming the princes of psychedelia...By concentrating on just this one year, Steve Turner has been able to examine every influence, document every detail, and fit the jigsaw together. An extraordinary achievement." -- Barry Miles, author of Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now and In the Sixties "1966 was the year of my marriage to George, our first visit to India, and the Beatles' last concert. It was a really exciting time of innovation and exploration- the world, our oyster. Everything is captured most vividly and in such detail in this book. " -- Pattie Boyd "A fascinating dissection of these best and worst of times for the Beatles. Steve Turner's research is impressive." -- Philip Norman, author of Shout! The True Story of the Beatles, John Lennon: The Life, and Paul McCartney: The Biography "The most comprehensive coverage of Revolver and the events in the Beatles' lives and times in 1966. Splendid!" -- Tony Bramwell, author of Magical Mystery Tours: My Life with the Beatles "Turner succeeds in creating an illuminating portrait of the Beatles, both as a band and as individual artists." -- Publishers Weekly "This book guides Beatles fans through that year in an engaging, interesting and compelling way. Beatles '66 is a major achievement-for Beatles fans, yes of course, but also for anyone interested in how creativity works and is affected by its surroundings." -- New York Journal of Books "Turner's well-researched, in-depth, quote- and photo-filled precis will thrill all Beatles fans." -- Booklist "What music journalist Turner brings...is fantastic access (the book draws upon his interviews with The Beatles, as well as producer George Martin and George Harrison's mentor Ravi Shankar) and an extraordinary, Peter Guralnick-like (Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley) attention to detail." -- USA Today "Turner tackles the year from all angles, incorporating a wealth of source material and new quotes from people involved to shed some fresh light on these incidents ... This book is the work of an expert, and expertly written at that." -- Paste Magazine "A wonderfully compelling look into the year that changed everything for the band." -- BookPage "This is a Beatles book to read many times. An extraordinary book." -- Beatles Magazine

Read more less

Book SynopsisChris, also an investigative news-writer, has written for Rolling Stone, Details, the Telegraph and The Sunday Times amongst many others. His subjects have varied from Madonna and Lisa-Marie Presley to politicians, murderers and artists. Chris and Robbie have spent nearly two years working on this book.Trade ReviewThe definitive book on Robbie Williams * Heat *A phenomenal piece of journalism... an absorbing essay on fame and the music industry * Observer *Perceptive, sympathetic and sometimes shocking. It is also - because Williams is a genuinely amusing man - wonderfully funny * Sunday Telegraph *The most lustrous and scrupulously observed anatomy of the madness of top-flight 21st century celebrity existence that it has ever been my deep joy to read * Independent on Sunday *It's all there, the inside story that the fans have guessed at and the tabloids have done their best to invent...Until Mrs Williams finally does appear, nobody is going to get closer to Robbie than this * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRobbie Robertson''s singular contributions to popular music have made him one of the most beloved songwriters and guitarists of his time. With songs like The Weight', The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' and Up on Cripple Creek', he and his partners in the Band fashioned a music that has endured for decades, influencing countless musicians.In this captivating memoir, written over five years of reflection, Robbie employs his unique storyteller''s voice to weave together the journey that led him to some of the most pivotal events in music history. He recounts the adventures of his half-Jewish, half-Mohawk upbringing on the Six Nations Indian Reserve and on the gritty streets of Toronto; his odyssey at sixteen to the Mississippi Delta, the fountainhead of American music; the wild, early years on the road with rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks; his unexpected ties to the Cosa Nostra underworld; the gripping trial-by-fire of ''going electric'' with Bob Dylan on his 1Trade ReviewRobbie Robertson’s Testimony is a book of memories and wonders, a personal testament of a magical time in American music from someone who was there, at the centre of it all, playing and casting spells and writing songs that helped define those great lost years. There’s history here, and anecdote, regret and reminiscence, a long fond look back at the trials and triumphs of finding your voice then holding your ground. The tone is easy, conversational, like reminiscing with a friend about things you never realized you were part of too. Robbie brings you along with him, keeps you right by his side first to last, just the way his songs do, drawing you close, spellbound by his easy sorcery. You can feel the music in every word. -- Martin Scorsese[An] elegant, evocative memoir … Robertson was particularly suited to a supporting role, happiest pulling the strings in the background. It’s the perfect vantage point for a memoirist, and he makes the most of it … The first half of the book is a hugely atmospheric song of the road … Midway, Dylan hits the narrative like a firework tossed through a window … Robertson brings the chaos vividly to life … He tells it with style and affection, showing a keen eye for detail. * Mail on Sunday *An entertaining and valuable description of a rock’n’roll apprenticeship punctuated by encounters with such historic figures as Sonny Boy Williamson, Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters. He casts light on a vital phase of Dylan’s career and, of course, on the history of the Band. * Guardian *For real insight into a musical unit’s workings, it would be hard to beat the Canadian guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson’s Testimony…packed with fascinating anecdote. -- Neil McCormick * Telegraph *'We’re deep into the golden age of the classic-rock memoir … Testimony ends when its author was still relatively young, but it is packed with incident … His memoir is confident and well oiled. At times it has the mythic sweep of an early Terrence Malick movie … Mr. Dylan blows into this memoir like a blazing tumbleweed … [Robbie Robertson's] writing is wonderfully perceptive. * New York Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisJools Holland has had a fascinating life. From playing on bomb sites as a boy in the East End, to skiving off school and then selling millions of records with Squeeze, the first twenty years of his life were eventful, chaotic and colourful. Then came The Tube with Paula Yates, the seminal live music programme that propelled him to fame. Over the following three decades, Jools succeeded in placing himself at the epicentre of a global community comprising just about anybody who is anybody in music. Through Later with Jools Holland, the longest-running music programme on television, he has given British TV debuts to countless now world famous bands. Packed with hilarious anecdotes written in Holland's own inimitable style and laced with quirky insights and deliciously acute detail, this autobiography by one of Britain's most gifted and debonaire musicians is not just for music fans, but for anyone who is looking for something several cuts above the conventional showbiz memoir.<

Read more less

Book SynopsisBy night, Brian Johnson sings in the biggest rock ''n'' roll band on the planet.But by day, AC/DC''s charismatic, flat-capped frontman gets to indulge his passion for all things automotive.Cars and rock ''n''roll, they were made for each other.Car racer, car collector and all-round car enthusiast, Johnson is an incurable, certifiable petrolhead who can''t remember a time when four wheels didn''t feature as large in his life as music.Starting, as a young boy growing up in Tyneside, with an old steering wheel and his imagination, a lifelong passion took root early.And through cramped teenage fumbles in an old mini and clapped-out, hygienically challenged tour vans, to chauffeur-driven, leather-trimmed limos and a sideline as a successful racing driver, it''s been there ever since.By turns, surprising, joyful, poignant and usually laugh-out-loud funny, Rockers and Rollers is the story of man with an insatiable appetite for life and a glimpse into the extr

Read more less

Book SynopsisCelebrate 40 years of WHAM! with the Sunday Times bestseller from one half of the world''s most famous bands ''I couldn''t put it down. Such a fantastic book'' Chris Evans, Virgin Radio ________ School mates. Band mates. Soul mates . . . When Andrew Ridgley took George Michael, the new boy at school, under his wing, he discovered a soul mate. In Wham! George and Me, Andrew tells the story of how they rode a rollercoaster of success around the world while making iconic records and surviving superstardom with their friendship intact. It is a memoir of love, music, the flamboyant 1980s and living in a pop hurricane. No one else can ever tell their story - because no one else was there . . .Forty years on from their explosion into pop music, Andrew Ridgeley tells the inside story of Wham!, his life-long friendship with George Michael and the formation of a band that changed music. ________ ''A joyous celebration of the Wham! years. For anyone who was a teenager in the early 1980s, it will take you on a nostalgia trip. It''s an honest but affectionate account of a remarkable duo who remained true to their origins and their friendship throughout it all'' Daily Express ''As infectious as their music'' Daily Mirror ''A remarkably generous memoir. In more than one sense, the biography of a friend'' Spectator ''A great story'' Saturday Live, Radio 4 ''A lovely book. A love letter to George'' Graham Norton, BBC One ''Charming, heartfelt . . . there''s a real poignancy to Ridgeley''s description of Wham!''s glory days'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewEven before the first page of this charming, heartfelt memoir, Ridgeley's eloquent dedication to his "dearest friend" George Michael will have you in tears. This is more than a gleeful shuttlecocks-in-shorts account of young guns having some fun: there's a real poignancy to Ridgeley's description of Wham!'s glory days, the knowledge of what will be lost - a band, a best friend - chilling in the Club Tropicana sunshine. * The Sunday Times *A touching account of male friendship * The Times *Celebrity Memoirs of the Year * Guardian *A remarkably generous memoir....in more than one sense, the biography of a friend * Spectator *It's a joyous celebration of the Wham! years. For anyone who was a teenager in the early 1980s, it will take you on a nostalgia trip, with dozens of comically captioned photos of the band during the white espadrille years. It's an honest but affectionate account of a remarkable duo who remained true to their origins and their friendship throughout it all * Daily Express *Packed full of nostalgia, heart and insight, Wham! George & Me is a lovingly written ode to friendship and a celebration of one of the greatest pop acts of all time. A superb tribute * Classic Pop Magazine *In this moving memoir, which is also a vivid nostalgia trip for anyone who was a teenager in the 70s and 80s, he tells the story of his friendship and musical collaboration with George Michael. Engaging * Sunday Express *The Wham! star charts his treasured friendship with George Michael, from their meeting at school in 1975 to George's untimely death in 2016. The duo left a legacy of pop classics from the exuberant Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go to the evergreen Last Christmas, and Ridgeley's enthusiasm for life in a chart-topping band is as infectious as their music * Daily Mirror *This book is all you could want and more! * Magic Book Club *I couldn't put it down. Such a fantastic book * Chris Evans, Virgin Radio *A great story * Saturday Live, Radio 4 *A lovely book. A love letter to George * Graham Norton, BBC1 *A touching and vivid nostalgia trip - with great photos * Best *Top 50 gift picks for the book lovers in your life * The Herald *A fond look back at the Wham! star's life in the group that helped define Eighties pop * Choice Magazine *Will no doubt appeal to the fanbase . . . Humorous and touching * Times Literary Supplement *Joyful nostalgia * Daily Express *As a hard-nosed ex-detective, it was a source of much hilarity that I am such a Wham! fan but my copy of this is a prized possession * Peter Bleksley *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAuthentic advice on subverting expectations and embracing kindness.What would Harry do? Songwriter, trendsetter, social activist, mindfulness master - we''d all love to be more like Harry Styles. This Golden guide, packed with Styles wisdom, will show you how. Want to learn how to be your most authentic self, have the confidence to wear what you want, and find inner peace? Discover how Harry finds his sparkle, so you can too. Inside the pages of this book you will find: - A mix of humour and sage advice that will resonate with any fan- Chapters covering style, career, creativity, attitude, relationships, and more - Stylish artwork and design appeals to key demographicFamously charming, fabulously dressed, and unapologetically himself - there are so many reasons to want to be more Harry Styles. This book will show you how to channel this once-in-a-generation pop icon.Following his stratospheric levels of fame as a member of One Direction, Harry has carved out his own unique path in the industry as a solo artist, actor, and fashion icon. Harry''s approach to life, career, music, relationships, and style is inspirational to anyone who wants to subvert expectations, be authentically themselves, and treat people with kindnessBe More Harry Styles is the perfect gift for Harry Styles fans.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe definitive story of The Stone Roses by Simon Spence, with an updated final chapter covering the reunion rollercoaster ride. From the Manchester backwaters to the worldwide 2012 tour, War and Peace lays bare the irresistible tale of the last of the great bands..Based on 400 hours of interviews with over seventy of The Stone Roses'' closest associates, including six former band members, War and Peace is the first major biography of the band that defined a generation.Originally planned in collaboration with Reni, the reclusive drummer, this book had been a year in the making when the Roses, against all odds, announced their re-formation. It is a remarkable coda to an astonishing story. In 1989 their debut album and the single ''Fools Gold'' made them the most exciting British export since the Sex Pistols. With their incendiary aura the Roses became figureheads of the ''Madchester'' movement.War and Peace traces the band''sTrade ReviewThis is the one. It's the definitive biography of the band, stuffed with photos that have never been seen before. The writing feels really fresh and definitive. It's a classic -- Alex Heminsley * BBC 6 Music Book of the Month *A comprehensive, no-holds-barred account... details with steely, forensic precision the story of the group's ascent, heyday and spectacular implosion. All the triumphs and disasters are here * The Sunday Times *A forensic, detailed and beautifully researched history of the Stone Roses.... full of new stuff -- John HarrisFor the casual listener, or die-hard fanatic, this is a genuine masterpiece * What Hi-Fi? Sound & Vision *This is the one Stone Roses book fans will want to read. Copies of this superb biography will not remain on shop shelves for long * The Bookseller *An era-defining, definitive biography * Q *A loving and detailed biog * Mojo *Cute on the machinations of the industry and internal band politics * The Times, Book of the Week *Brilliant... forensically put together -- Gordon Smart * XFM *Simon Spence's Stone Roses compendium has it all - interviews with the Manc group's closest confidants, unseen photos and a timeline that stretches all the way back to the group's inception . . . The definitive word on the band * NME Music Book of the Year 2013 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow one man discovered B. B. King, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, and how his tiny label, Sun Records of Memphis, revolutionised the world.Trade ReviewAuthor Peter Guralnick has no equals when it comes to researching the characters around Fifties andSixties rock music, and this biography has been many years in the writing. ...(a) valuable and fascinating book. -- Ray Connolly * DAILY MAIL - Book of the Week *In the hands of a storyteller as deft as Peter Guralnick it effortlessly engages the reader throughout. -- Lou Glandfield * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Guralnick's book is exhaustive but exhilarating. Writing about music is notoriously difficult ... Guralnick manages to do so with ease, so that every description of a recording gets you scurrying to YouTube, to check if he's right. He invariably is. It's a big book about a huge personality whose influence on popular music has been enormous. -- JOHN CLARKE * THE INDEPENDENT *Guralnick brilliantly captures the period, its attitudes and its characters in a book that is essential reading for anyone interested in popular music. -- Edward Argyle * DAILY EXPRESS *Getting to know Sam, Mr. Guralnick explains, opened up "a world in which I had clearly not grown up but to which I so desperately sought admittance, as historian, as writer, as fan." So began the quest that has produced the gold-standard Presley bio and now a complete portrait of his inspiration.Mr. Guralnick has captured what was different, real and raw about a great artist. His Sam Phillips comes out perfectly imperfect. -- PRESTON LAUTERBACH * WALL STREET JOURNAL *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe full story for the first time of the legendary pop icon written with the full cooperation of family and friends.Trade Review'a desperately sad story' Sunday TelegraphPenny and Vicki are very good at unpicking the troubled relationship between Springfield's public persona and her gay sexuality.' * Independent on Sunday *a poignant portrait of a much-loved star * Daily Mail *'Not just for fans but anyone interested in the late 20th century and its popular arts.' The Birmingham Post'compulsive reading' The Big Issueriveting ... remarkable candour and honesty * The Observer *'a lovingly-composed monument to a remarkable one-woman life-force' The Herald (Glasgow)compulsive reading * The Big Issue *a real treat * Q Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the formation of Wham! to his untimely death, this is the ultimate biography of George Michael.George Michael is an enigma. He was one of the most open and vocal pop superstars on the planet, yet he was also fiercely protective of his privacy.From the formation of Wham! in 1981 he immediately found fame and fortune beyond his wildest dreams. His music formed the soundtrack to the 1980s and he achieved all of this despite growing up in a dysfunctional family where his father openly proclaimed that George had no talent. Wham! Split in 1986 but Michael went on to greater things as a solo artist. Along the way he was embroiled in several controversies, but in a refreshing change to other superstars, he has been happy to address his issues head-on in the media. In the last decade he returned to touring with the massively successful 25Live tour and the critically acclaimed Symphonica after a serious health scare and a stint in prison. In the months before his death he was working on new material and a TV documentary. It was only after his death in December 2016 that stories of the full extent of his generosity came to light, adding another layer to the complex story of an unusual superstar. Rob Jovanovic''s newly updated biography of George Michael tackles the issues and glory that formed the superstar and his place as a cultural icon.

Read more less

Book Synopsis"A thumping good read." —The AtlanticTrade Review"Engrossing…Hot Stuff is not just about disco; it reexamines the ’70s as a decade of revolution." -- James Gavin - New York Times"Hot Stuff is a thoroughly researched, scholarly credible and fiercely entertaining dissection of disco’s origins and influence…An endearing platform—with matching shoes—to the music we can’t and shouldn’t forget." -- Warren Pederson - San Francisco Chronicle"An alternate account of those hazy-crazy yesteryears that’s ultimately indispensable." -- Smith Galtney - Time Out"A quietly dazzling history…Hot Stuff is the result of a lifetime of thinking deeply about the music and its influence." -- Peter Terzian - Los Angeles Times"Exhilarating, perceptive…an important work of cultural and musical resuscitation, written with a scholar’s acumen but a fan’s ardor." -- Melissa Anderson - Newsday"Remarkable…Carried along by prose that is as sleek and slinky as its subject." -- Christine Stansell, author of The Feminist Promise"Echols aims for—and thoroughly achieves—a range of higher cultural insights…Revelatory." -- Publishers Weekly"A well-researched, culturally sensitive time capsule." -- Kirkus Reviews"[An] entertaining and convincing reclamation of what was once Western culture’s most reviled music…It’s a scholarly read powered by the thump-thump of Giorgio Moroder’s synths; you’ll find yourself humming Ring My Bell and searching YouTube for evidence of Sylvester’s fabulosity." -- Evelyn McDonnell - Miami Herald

Read more less

Book SynopsisThrough nigh-on forty years of laconic brilliance on Radio 1, a musical taste which defined a culture and his wildly popular Radio 4 show, Home Truths, John Peel reached out to an audience that was as diverse as his record collection. He was a genuinely great Briton, beloved by millions. John''s unique voice and sensibility were evident in everything he did, and nowhere is that more true than in these pages.Margrave of the Marshes is the astonishing book John Peel began to write before his untimely death in October 2004, completed by the woman who knew him best, his wife Sheila. It is a unique and intimate portrait of a life, a marriage and a family which is every bit as extraordinary as the man himself - a fitting tribute to a bona fide legend.Trade ReviewPure Peel...This magnificent book is the real thing...Essential reading * Sunday Times *As with the man himself ... there's the surprising, the cosy ... and the fascinating. * GQ *A rich and technicolor life... The joy of this book comes from something more than spiky anecdotage, delicious though it is... the evocation of an age is so sharp * The Times *... Tender and acute ... underlines the one truth that Peel understood better than anyone ... [what] really mattered was the music. * Independent on Sunday *Sparkling with the warmth and dry wit that made Peel nothing short of a national treasure, it's a timely reminder of a man who crossed the radio divides * Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book SynopsisOctober 1982: ABC, Culture Club, Shalamar and Survivor dominate the top twenty when the Pogues barrel out from the backstreets of King''s Cross, a furious, pioneering mix of punk energy, traditional melodies and the powerfully poetic songwriting of Shane MacGowan. Reviled by traditionalists for their frequently fast, often riotous interpretations of Irish folk songs, the Pogues rose from the sweaty chaos of backroom gigs in Camden pubs to world tours with the likes of Elvis Costello, U2 and Bob Dylan, and had huge commercial success with everyone''s favourite Christmas song, ''Fairytale of New York''. Yet, the exuberance of their live performances coupled with relentless touring spiralled into years of hard drinking and excess which eventually took their toll - most famously on Shane, but also on the rest of the band - causing them to part ways seven years later. Here, their story is told with beauty, lyricism and great candour by James Fearnley, founding member and accordion player. He brings to life the youthful friendships, the bust-ups, the amazing gigs, the terrible gigs, the fantastic highs and the dramatic lows in a hugely compelling, humorous, moving and honest account of life in one of our most treasured and original bands.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsStripped; A Question Of Lust; A Question Of Time; Strangelove; Never Let Me Down Again; Behind The Wheel; Personal Jesus; Enjoy The Silence; Policy Of Truth; World In My Eyes; I Feel You; Walking In My Shoes; Condemnation; In Your Room; Barrel Of A Gun; It’s No Good; Home; Useless; Only When I Lose Myself; Little 15; Everything Counts.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis songbook of 14 songs from the much-loved Broadway musical and classic motion picture, Annie has been expertly arranged for piano and voice. Including all-time favourites from Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin such as Tomorrow and It’s The Hard-Knock Life.Table of ContentsAnnie; Easy Street; I Don’t Need Anything But You; I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here; It’s The Hard-Knock Life; Little Girls; Maybe; A New Deal For Christmas; N.Y.C; Something Was Missing; Tomorrow; We’d Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover; You Won’t Be An Orphan For Long; You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe definitive book on the influence of LGBT performers on modern music: a Duckworth contemporary classic, beautifully repackaged for our 125th anniversaryTrade Review‘Lovingly detailed and exhaustively researched – easily the most readable and comprehensive guide I've seen to this fascinating hidden history’ Tom Robinson, musician, broadcaster and long-time LGBT rights activist‘An excellent book’ GayStarNews'Darryl W. Bullock leaves no stone unturned in his analysis of this crucial part of LGBT culture' Men 24 Magazine'A thorough and enjoyable tour through LGBT history that underlines how important music is to us, and how important we are to music' Rod Thomas, Bright Light Bright Light'An important volume. One that deserves to be read. One that deserves to be taught’ New York Journal of Books

Read more less

Book SynopsisBiography of the legendary guitarist Rory Gallagher.

Read more less

Book Synopsis***NOMINATED FOR THE NME BEST BOOK AWARD 2017 *** The first and only OFFICIAL book from ZAYN, for his ultimate fans. Zayn''s autobiography features exclusive, never-before-seen photographs alongside his story. -------------------------------- ''This book is my diary of a period that I would like to share with you all. I hope that there are things in the book that contextualise some of the moments and memories we have all shared together. There are things I address in the book that are very personal to me, things that I have never told anyone, things I still find hard to talk about. It''s a part of a journey I''m still on'' - ZAYN ZAYN opens up with this collection of thoughts, inspiration, and never-before-seen personal photographs. After five years of massive success with One Direction, ZAYN launched his career as a solo artist with Mind of Mine, becoming one of the most successful artists in the world. NowTrade ReviewThe first and only official book from ZAYN. Global superstar ZAYN shares a photographic journey of his life since leaving One Direction. from the publisher's description

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis fascinating biography provides a detailed portrait of the high-energy, charismatic international superstar and frontman of the ever-popular band, Bon Jovi. The book charts Jon''s relationship with the other band members who have their fair share of rock and roll stories - sex, booze, burnouts, health and women problems. Although rock music is Jon Bon Jovi''s first love, he has more recently developed an interest in acting - starring in various hit TV shows such as Ally McBeal and Sex and the City and attracting critical acclaim for his role in World War II hit film, U-571. He has also scored film music, with his score for Young Guns earning him an Oscar nomination. Bestselling writer Laura Jackson explores the personality, character, drive and the determination that have taken him from playing New Jersey clubs through all the groupie excess and glamorous indulgence to where the band is today. Two new chapters in this updated edition detail his recent work for char

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Eagles wrote the soundtrack to the Seventies and Eighties - and even now their albums top the charts. But backstage, there were no peaceful, easy feelings...Don Felder was just a poor boy from Florida, but when he joined the Eagles he soared into the stratosphere. Alongside former bandmates Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, and Felder''s childhood friend Bernie Leadon, he sold tens of millions of records (Eagles: Their Greatest Hits: 1971-1975 is the bestselling album of all time), performed before countless adoring fans, and co-wrote the renowned hit ''Hotel California''. His guitar-playing ability lifted the band from mere popularity to iconic status. And now Don Felder finally breaks the Eagles'' decades of public silence to take fans behind the scenes - where drugs, greed and endless acrimony threatened to tear the band apart almost daily.Maybe there was too much talent. Maybe the personalities clashed with the egos. Whatever the reason, ther

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exploration of Radiohead's game-changing album. Rather than simply reinforcing Kid A's canonical status, it situates the album in the temporal, examining it from various philosophical and cultural interpretations of time in order to arrive at its political and social stakes.Trade Review"A growing Alexandria of rock criticism - Los Angeles Times, 2008 Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just aren't enough - Rolling Stone One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planet - Bookslut"Table of ContentsKid Aesthetics; Kid Advertising; Kid Apolitical; Kid Association; Kid Ascension.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplores how a tiny acoustic record has puttered and purred its way into the millennium. This book contains interviews of producer Joe Boyd, string arranger Robert Kirby, and the marketing team behind the VW commercial.Trade ReviewThe latest addition to the evergrowing 33 1/3 series (now up to volume 51) is an in-depth look at Nick Drake's final album "Pink Moon". Tackling a 28 minute album of sparse folk by an artist whose life went largely undocumented (there are no known video clips or interviews with Drake) is a daunting task, but Petrusich handles the job nicely by telling the story through interviews with the people who knew Drake and worked with him musically, as well as testimonials from current artists who have felt his influence. She also does a great service to the readers by not painting Drake as some romantically doomed poetic soul, like so many other writers have done in the past. In fact, she does an excellent job of dispelling many Drake myths (ex: he didn't anonymously leave the tapes for Pink Moon at Island's reception desk without saying a word), and even points out flaws in the album (many of the vocals are garbled). The most interesting part of the book is the final third which focuses on Pink Moon's 21st Century revival thanks to a 2000 Volkswagon commercial featuring the title track. While many make the argument that using a song to push a product cheapens the artistry of the song, "Pink Moon" was used to such great effect that it has simultaneously become synonymous with Volkswagon. More importantly, thanks to commercial exposure, annual sales of the album jumped from 6,000 to 74,000 in the year that it hit the airwaves - exposing Drake's work to a new generation. Perhaps the best praise I can give the book is that after I finished reading it I put it down and listened to Pink Moon. * Losing Today.com *One of my favourites in Continuum's 33 1/3 series of books on seminal albums. * Largehearted Boy, August 2008 *Is an ambitious project...Petrusich is up to the task, and her travels weave an essential sense of place into her exploration of the evolution of Americana music. -- Julian Koster * Largehearted Boy, August 2008 *[A] fascinating read and a worthy inclusion in the pantheon of great books about great records. -- Matthew van DeWitt * Skyscraper magazine *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisJust as punk created a space for bands such as the Slits and Poly Styrene to challenge 1970s norms of femininity, through a transgressive, strident new female-ness, it also provoked experimental feminist film makers to initiate a parallel, lens-based challenge to patriarchal modes of film making. In this book, Rachel Garfield breaks new ground in exploring the rebellious, feminist punk audio-visual culture of the 1970s, tracing its roots and its legacies. In their filmmaking and their performed personae, film and video artists such as Vivienne Dick, Sandra Lahire, Betzy Bromberg, Ruth Novaczek, Sadie Benning, Leslie Thornton, Abigail Child and Anne Robinson offered a powerful, deliberately awkward alternative to hegemonic conformist femininity, creating a new punk audio visual aesthetic. A vital aspect of our vibrant contemporary digital audio visual culture, Garfield argues, can be traced back to the techniques and forms of these feminist pioneers, who like their musical coTrade ReviewGirls to the front! Garfield’s book places female filmmakers at the forefront of experimental film and video. Reclaiming the energy of punk, DIY, deflation, the kitchen table aesthetic and the amateur to enthuse a new generation of filmmakers, where the emphasis is on making and being heard rather than slick production values and aspiring to mainstream monotony. Oh bondage! Up yours! I wish I’d had this book growing up. -- Abbe Leigh Fletcher, Kingston University, UKDensely research, fiercely argued, Garfield’s book goes a good way toward toggling our view of punk and No Wave film toward the exhilaration of feminist autonomy. -- Michael Atkinson, Long Island University, USAExperimental Filmmaking and Punk is the rare study that not only captures subcultural counter-histories (in this case, of music and film) but traces social, political, and aesthetic interconnections that have never fully been acknowledged, simultaneously offering a completely new way of thinking about life and creativity in this place and time. -- Amelia Jones, University of Southern California, USAGarfield writes a new lineage of experimental film, convincingly rendering the filmmakers’ shared stance of “oppositional modernism”. Celebrating edgy incompleteness, rhythm rather than plot, multiplicity instead of unity, DIY instead of glossy production values, Garfield sides with the heady, messy and personal. -- Abigail Child, Emeritus Professor, Tufts University, USAExperimental Filmmaking and Punk restores complexity and nuance to an inspiring body of work that has, until now, been under-known and under-valued. Rachel Garfield draws on her deep knowledge of the punk movement to shed light on a generation of important yet marginalised female filmmakers. Exploring the impact of punk’s anti-authoritarian spirit, she discusses how women refused gender norms in ‘art’ as well as ‘life.’ The DIY and kitchen table aesthetics described here are bound to resonate with the prosumer tactics of contemporary artists and cultural producers. -- Helena Reckitt, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK.Rachel Garfield searches out the scuzzy filmic scenarios, kitchen table aesthetics and DIY approaches that characterise the “punk films” of overlooked feminist artists in the 1970s and 1980s. In doing so, Experimental Filmmaking and Punk convinces us to look beyond the avant-garde milieux of the day and instead towards punk rock to understand why these women made the films they did. Whilst not forgetting the importance of pioneering filmmakers that came before, Garfield shows how punk exemplars of gender non-conformity like Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex and Ari Up of The Slits demonstrated a riotous new ethic of self-fashioning for feminist filmmaking. As Styrene herself sang: “Anti-art was the start”! -- Gavin Butt, Northumbria University, UKIn her joining of the dots between the key subject matter and the ‘contextualising scaffold’ of punk, as well as her situating of the filmmakers’ art practices within the wider economic, cultural and political contexts, Garfield’s work is a thoroughly informative, entertaining and riveting book. * Punk & Post-Punk *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Do it Yourself and the Amateur 2. The Last of the Modern Two - Visualizing Women, Otherness and the Cosmopolitan Punk 3. Feminism, Visualising the Kitchen Table and Do-It-Yourself: in Praise of the Fragment Part 1 4. Kracauer Disintegration and Punk: In Praise of the Fragment Part 2 5. Representation and the Inability to Situate: the Undecidability of Women's Punk Conclusion Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating investigation into what defines 'heavy' in music and how heaviness transfuses culture.Trade ReviewFascinating . . . powerful -- Elif Shafak * The Spectator *A weighty discussion of metal, for both passionate fans and neophytes . . . Yet what elevates Heavy from being a simple love letter to metal is the way in which Franklin situates heaviness within the "iron-rich bloodline running through the bedrock of culture" . . . a book that pulls off the trick of offering something to both passionate fans and neophytes -- Keith Kahn-Harris * Guardian *Heavy opens an ornate portal into a murky subculture, illuminating the marginalia as well as the big beasts -- Victoria Segal * Sunday Times *A wildly entertaining journey into the heart of musical darkness -- Liam Cagney * Irish Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSixty extraordinary years of Eurovision, from Céline Dion to Dustin the Turkey, from Abba to Conchita Wurst - the drag acts, the bad acts and all the nul points heroes.For 60 years the Eurovision Song Contest has existed in a parallel universe where a song about the construction of a hydro-electric power station is considered cutting-edge pop, where half a dozen warbling Russian grandmothers are considered Saturday night entertainment, where a tune repeating the word ''la'' 138 times is considered a winner, and where Australia is considered part of Europe During those sixty years we have witnessed scandals: in 1957, Denmark''s Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler enjoyed an outrageously long 13-second kiss because the stage manager forgot to say ''cut'' during the live broadcast. We have witnessed national outrage: the 1976 Greek entry was a savage indictment of Turkish foreign policy in Cyprus. But most have all we have witnessed silly costumes, terrible lyric

Read more less

Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Penderyn Music Book PrizeOver the course of a thirteen-album and multi-award-winning career with Squeeze, it was clear from the very beginning that Chris Difford has few peers when it comes to smart, pithy lyricism. In Some Fantastic Place, he charts his life from his childhood in south London to becoming a member of one of Britain''s greatest bands and beyond. Along the way Chris reveals the inspiration and stories behind Squeeze''s best-known songs, and his greatest highs and lows from over four decades of making music.Trade ReviewWith hilarious honesty, Squeeze's frontman reveals how his pop career went well and truly Up The Junction! * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Chris Difford's characteristically dry memoir deals with political conflicts closer to home. Opening with the early, boozy days of Squeeze, it ends in 2016 when the band appeared on The Andrew Marr Show. Spotting then prime minister David Cameron on the sofa, keen to justify his government's decision to knock down old council estates, singer Glenn Tilbrook improvised new lyrics: "I grew up in council housing," he sang, "Part of what made Britain great / There are some here who are hell bent / On the destruction of the welfare state." Difford reports that the PM clapped along, then "came over to us at the end of the show and said, ' You know I think that song is going to be a hit!'" -- Helen Brown * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Loving the Chris Difford autobiography. "Dad said if I joined a rock band I'd be an alcoholic, drug addict & skint. Turns out he was right." -- David HepworthA witty, charming, acutely observed and astonishingly honest account of what it's like to be a successful musician. I was gripped and fascinated. -- Mark EllenSqueeze's music has been a part of my soundtrack since first hearing and seeing them back in the late 70's and Chris's book is just as lively and captivating. It's honest, poignant, laugh out loud funny and is a fascinating peep (warts and all) into the life of one of our most talented wordsmiths. Quite simply, i couldn't put it down. -- Gary CrowleyAs anyone who has listened to "Cool for Cats" or "Up the Junction" will know, Difford's lyrics are superb at noticing the unconscious poetry of everyday life, and the early chapters of this book are tightly packed with the sights, the sounds and especially the smells of his childhood: the "sweetest smell of peat burning on the fire" in his Irish aunt's house, "the dry crusty odour of socks in football boots" at school, or the heady teenage scent of "Brut and spray-on deodorant". -- Robert Douglas-Fairhurst * THE GUARDIAN *This conversational memoir from Chris Difford - one of the principal songwriters of beloved U.K. pop act Squeeze - covers a lot of ground: his south London childhood; the band's career ups and downs; and his non-Squeeze detours, including managing Bryan Ferry."Some Fantastic Place" is distinguished by its admirable candour: Unlike many artists, Difford is reflective about the obstacles he's had to overcome (e.g., flying anxiety, substance abuse, relationship breakdowns), and he is direct and forthcoming about how these things inform his life and music, even in the present. However, Difford's dry sense of humor also shines through - for instance, speaking of the band's first, ill-fated U.S. gig, at The Lighthouse in Bethlehem, New Jersey, he writes, "We literally played to one man and a dog. We were forced to play a second set by the owner. The dog left." Lovely and enriching, "Some Fantastic Place" is very much worth a read. * SALON *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince his untimely death in 1974 at the age of twenty six, Nick Drake has not only gained a huge international audience, which eluded him during his lifetime, but has also come to represent the epitome of English romanticism. Drake's small but much-loved body of work has evoked comparisons with Blake, Keats, Vaughan Williams and Delius, placing him within a long line of English mystical romanticism. Yet upon closer inspection Drake's work betrays a myriad of international, cosmopolitan influences and approaches that seem to confound his status as archetypal English troubadour. Nathan Wiseman-Trowse unravels the myths surrounding Nick Drake's music to show how audiences have come to think of his work as representing the very idea of Englishness itself. The music itself provides clues, hinting at a specific English landscape that Drake would have wandered through during his lifetime. Yet Drake's interest in blues, jazz, and eastern mysticism hint at a broader conception of English national identity in the late 1960s, far removed from mere parochial nostalgia. Similarly, the framing of Drake's music after his death has done much to situate him as a particular kind of English artist, integrating American counterculture, the English class system and a nostalgic re-imagining of the hippy era for contemporary audiences. Nick Drake: Dreaming England explores how ideas of Englishness have come to be so intimately associated with the cult singer songwriter. Essential reading for any fan of Nick Drake, the book will also appeal to those interested in folk music or English national identity.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION 1 DREAMING ENGLAND 2 LISTENING TO THE LAND 3 THE COUNTRY AND THE CITY 4 MELANCHOLIA AND LOSS 5 DRAKE'S LEGACY Chronology References Select Bibliography Discography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis_________‘Hepworth’s knowledge and understanding of rock history is prodigious … [a] hugely entertaining study of the LP’s golden age’ The Times_________The era of the LP began in 1967, with ‘Sgt Pepper’; The Beatles didn’t just collect together a bunch of songs, they Made An Album. Henceforth, everybody else wanted to Make An Album. The end came only fifteen years later, coinciding with the release of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’. By then the Walkman had taken music out of the home and into the streets and the record business had begun trying to reverse-engineer the creative process in order to make big money. Nobody would play music or listen to it in quite the same way ever again.It was a short but transformative time. Musicians became ‘artists’ and we, the people, patrons of the arts. The LP itself had been a mark of sophistication, a measure of wealth, an instrument of education, a poster saying things you dare not say yourself, a means of attracting the opposite sex, and, for many, the single most desirable object in their lives.This is the story of that time; it takes us from recording studios where musicians were doing things that had never been done before to the sparsely furnished apartments where their efforts would be received like visitations from a higher power. This is the story of how LPs saved our lives.Trade ReviewHepworth's knowledge and understanding of rock history is prodigious...he throws terrific little facts around like confetti...And his pungently sarcastic asides are priceless... Hugely entertaining. * The Sunday Times *When reviewers say a book feels twice as long as it actually is, they are not usually being complimentary. In the case of David Hepworth’s paean to the age of vinyl, A Fabulous Creation, I really have come to praise him. It’s years since I came across a chronicle of the pop life containing so many arresting anecdotes that I found myself going back over pages to savour every line, every insight. * The Times *Full of sharp critical assessments and droll digressions ... warm and wonderfully readable. * Q Magazine *His best yet. * Danny Baker *Well researched and passionately written. * The Afterword *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDamon Albarn was the frontman of Blur and the face of Britpop. While his peers have gradually fallen by the wayside, Albarn has survived Britpop to completely re-invent himself as the mastermind behind the global phenomenon that is Gorillaz. With his eclectic solo projects - such as the currently much-revered The Good, The Bad and the Queen - and his work with legends like Soul music icon Bobby Womack, he has proven again and again that he is one of British music's most respected, innovative and important personalities. And in 2015, with the release of The Magic Whip, Blur's first album for over a decade, Damon Albarn will take his place once more as an iconic jewel in the crown of the British music scene. This fully up-to-date book - the only available dedicated biography of Albarn - covers his multiple musical personas in depth, with first-hand interviews by those close to Albarn in his formative years, as well as social and musical context that covers the Britpop era and Albarn's re-emergence as the Godfather to the i-Pod generation.Trade Review'There are books about (and by) Blur, but never one this definitive' - NME

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Fabulously readable' STEPHEN FRY'Brilliantly told, the fascinating life of one of Britain's greatest songwriters' MATT LUCAS'A brilliant, funny, emotional book' DAVID QUANTICKDescribed variously as a 'polymath', a 'renaissance man' and 'one of the most colourful characters in the music business', Mike Batt has led an extraordinarily vibrant and challenging life that has been full of both glorious victories and bitter failures. For better or for worse, he is a man who has always lived life on his own terms. Idiosyncratic but mainstream, complicated but compassionate, steadfastly maverick in spirit but avowedly commercial in outlook. He is a man of great contradictions, but even greater talent. After starting out in the music business as a teenager, Batt shot to fame in the early 1970s for his part in the creation of the Wombles pop group. But this success proved to be just the beginning as he then went on to work with various artists as a songwriter, composer and producer, including Art Garfunkel, George Harrison, Cliff Richard, Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Katie Melua. Featuring cameos from some of the biggest stars in the business from Paul McCartney to Prince, The Closest Thing to Crazy takes us not only on the rocky (and classical) journey of Mike Batt's life but also on a tour around the inside of his mind.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen the world's greatest pop band played their final public concert, in January 1969, there were no tickets or posters printed. When John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr emerged at lunchtime from the headquarters of their own company, Apple, five storeys above London's Savile Row, only a select group of people knew what the hell was happening.The rooftop concert was one of the Beatles' most spontaneous acts. Beatles on the Roof studies the rooftop concert in penetrating detail, uncovering new truths and debunking old myths about the event. Nobody knew it yet - not even the band - but this was the last time they would play live to the public.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHere is the story of how the Sex Pistols shocked and shamed EMI - the UK's most revered and profitable record company - and ended up GBP40,000 the richer thanks to manager Malcolm McLaren's cunning business strategy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisK-Pop: The Ultimate Fan Book is your essential guide to all the bands, songs and styles behind the most diverse and exciting genre in pop music today. 2018 was a breakout year for K-Pop (Korean Pop) on the global stage, with boy-band BTS reaching number 1 in the UK album chart and selling out live shows around the world including Wembley in June 2019. But there's so much more to this cultural movement. Featuring all the hottest K-Pop bands, from BTS and Red Velvet to TWICE and EXO, K-Pop: The Ultimate Fan Book is packed with dozens of vibrant photos and a colourful, eye-catching design. Table of ContentsMeet the Bands. Profiles of all the hottest K-Pop acts, including: BTS • Red Velvet • BLACKPINK • Wanna One • TWICE • EXO • iKon • Seventeen • Monsta X • Astro • GOT7 • Mamamoo • EXID • TVXQ • GFriend • Cherry Bullett • G-IDLE • TXT • ITZY. World of K-Pop. The Big Bang! • Classic K-Pop • Masters of K-Pop • K-Pop Dance Class • K-Pop Style Guide • The Next Generation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisShapeshifting, collaborative, endlessly inventive and robustly empowering - Black music has in the last three decades reshaped Britain and made a lasting impact on our culture and society. Each generation of Black Britons has remade the music scene, and, against a backdrop of misrepresentation and marginalisation, found freedom and joy in community. In this landmark book, the journalist, DJ and filmmaker Jesse Bernard dives deep into the genesis and history of homegrown Black music, from the height of jungle and UK hip-hop in 1990, through the 2011 London riots, the birth of UK trap and the rise of grime superstars like Stormzy. Despite existing on the margins, Black British music has thrived through the creativity and resourcefulness of creators and communities; in Escaping Babylon Jesse Bernard examines how Black barbershops became conduits for new music, how the Internet changed the spread of Black culture and how music in Britain is moulded by the Black diaspora from Lagos to Los Angeles, Sao Paolo to South London. Escaping Babylon is the definitive account of Black British music - its vibrant history and towering legacy.

Read more less